Of People and Politicians: Ideology and Political Action

Abstract

Across Central and Eastern Europe, citizens are reconsidering their expectations of politics and how they perceive those in authority. People constantly judge whether governments provide, listen, and deserve support based on the visuals used by parties to communicate their narrative, and their daily experiences with public services. This panel investigates how changing institutions, practices, and strategies influence regime performance and political support in the region. Bringing together studies of party communication and visual culture, as well as strategic adaptation to a changing international context, it investigates how citizens evaluate and respond to governmental institutions at both the national and local levels. The contributions analyze how performance in basic areas of governance such as service provision, responsiveness, transparency, and identity representation effects trust, legitimacy, and the desire to hold authorities accountable

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